With another fabulous year for our thriving juniors, Our coaching department reflects on yet another successful season on and off the field for our junior department.

This season began with ever-growing membership, with over 50 juniors attending our winter sessions, held weekly on Tuesdays from 6–9 pm at Sheddocksley. Our age range spanned from as young as six to 15 years old. To accommodate our growing numbers and increase participation in older age groups, the upcoming off-season will look to expand the age bracket to include players up to 18 years old—a credit to our expanding club.

The summer season welcomed a mix of new players alongside many returning from the previous year—a key contributor to our club’s growth. Our teams regularly took part in friendly matches across multiple age groups: U12, U13, U14, U15, and U16, with fixtures held on Mondays or Wednesdays. A special thanks goes to fellow North-East clubs, such as Stoneywood Dyce and Gordonians Cricket Club, for not only competing against us at Mannofield but also hosting us at their home venues. These friendly fixtures are crucial for growing both our club and the sport across the North-East.

Competitive Highlights

We were proud to field four age groups in this year’s Scottish Cup competitions: U13, U14, U15, and U16.

U13
Our U13s reached the Quarter-Finals before narrowly bowing out to Forfarshire Cricket Club, who went on to the finals. A proud moment, given the average age of our U13 squad was just 12. Many of these players will return next year, bringing valuable experience and potential for further success.

U14
Predominantly composed of our U13 players, the U14s made it to the Semi-Finals, where they lost in a close encounter to Perth Doocot Cricket Club—the eventual Scottish Cup winners. This performance highlights the talent and promise of this group.

U15
Arguably our strongest team this year, the U15s won the Scottish Cup! Finals day in Edinburgh saw our boys defeat Scottish Titans Grange Cricket Club convincingly. This victory qualified them for the British Cup, where they first faced Northumbria champions at Ashington Cricket Club, emerging victorious. The Northern Finals in Chester provided our players with invaluable travel and overnight experience. After a comfortable win against Barnard Castle in the quarter-finals, they narrowly missed out against the eventual British Cup finalists in Didsbury. A fantastic campaign for a talented squad, and next year we aim to go one better.

U16
Our U16s reached the Scottish Cup Final before narrowly losing to Dumfries. Their journey to the final was long and challenging, making their achievement all the more commendable.

Overall, all our sides reached the latter stages of their respective competitions, gaining experience that will serve them well in future seasons.

Notable Achievements

Several juniors were selected for regional and national sides. Special mentions go to Ethan Shedbal, Marcus Vila, Riyanash Kirdoain, Arnav Saraswat, and Manu Saraswat and Aayush Sinha who all played pivotal roles in their respective national teams—making the club immensely proud.

Many juniors also contributed significantly to our senior sides this year. With the increase in junior talent, our senior teams can look forward to greater success in national competitions, helping us regain our former glory.

Record-Breaking Achievements by Juniors in the Senior Side

Ethan Shedbal (14 years old) – Became the youngest consecutive century maker in North-East history!

Marcus Vila (14 years old) – Youngest centurion in SPCU history.

Vihaan Basavaraju (11 years old) – Youngest half-centurion in North-East history.

Oscar Vila (12 years old) – Scored a half-century at just 12 years old.

Kanishk Tata (12 years old) – Achieved a 6-wicket haul at only 12 years old!

Volunteers

With over 130 children (hardball and softball) participating this year, the effort behind the scenes cannot be understated. Head Coach Phil Wood continues to work tirelessly—planning, coaching, and travelling with all our players. Assisting him were several volunteer coaches and helpers, many of whom are parents, including a few such as - Ashim Sinha, Jeff Begg, Tham Saravanan, Nav Nagdeve, Fiona Broadribb, Niamh O’Kennedy, and Umesh Basavaraju. Without their dedication, this past summer would not have been possible.

Thanks also go to our groundsman, Lewis Munro, who produced pitches of outstanding quality despite the limited hours he had available .

Sponsors

We are grateful to Martin Mitchell and Aberdeen Orthopaedic Group for their vital financial support as well as all the other sponsors. Their contribution ensures that cricket remains accessible to all, allowing children from diverse backgrounds to participate.

The Final Message to all

At its heart, our club is more than just cricket; it is a community. Our growth and success are not measured solely by trophies or scores, but by the dedication, support, and spirit of everyone involved. From our tireless coaches and volunteer helpers to the grounds staff who prepare our pitches, the bar staff who welcome us each week, our generous sponsors, and the wider Mannofield community - each plays a vital role in nurturing our juniors and sustaining our club. Together, we create an environment where young players can thrive and the love of the game can be shared. It is this collective effort and shared passion that truly defines us and ensures our club will continue to grow, on and off the field.